Category Archives: Apologetics

October 4, 2015 · 10:30

Jesus Said It

Jesus Preaching the Sermon on the Mount - Gustave Dore

                 Jesus Preaching the Sermon on the Mount – Gustave Dore

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.   (Matthew 24:35)

The general conception of Jesus, if He is thought of at all, is that He was a nice guy, a good teacher, and perhaps a miracle worker. A lot of what He said are words to live by, like, “all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12), and “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1 – taken out of context, a great verse for Christian bashing). There is no doubt that Jesus taught many things that benefit when applied to every-day life. Those kinds of teachings find general acceptance by all, but Jesus also said many things that many in this politically correct culture would find offensive.

Jesus said, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repent? Many today who, like Donald Trump, believe they have done nothing from which to repent. The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4, 20). Jesus said, “Repent”!

Jesus said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28). What man alive can claim innocence of that sin? These days, the same could be said of woman. Along with that He said, “whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery” (Matthew 5:32). With today’s high rate of easy divorce, to how many does this apply? Speaking of adultery, Jesus said marriage is between one man and one woman: “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Mark 10:6-9, emphasis mine) – so much for same-sex unions.

Many think of Jesus as peaceful and gentle, but Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). Why is that? To His followers Jesus said, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake” (Matthew 10:22, emphasis mine). “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18).  Jesus said, “And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household” (Matthew 10:36).  “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death” (Matthew 10:21).  Jesus said, “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law” (Matthew 10:35); so “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37-38). However, He offers this promise: “he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 10:39).

Jesus wants total allegiance; He wants first place in our lives. The reward is eternal life, but it is not without cost. Some will protest, and rightfully so, “Salvation is a free gift. It cannot be earned, Ephesians 2:8-9!” True. The “wages of sin” (Romans 3:23) were paid by Christ on the cross, but along with accepting the free gift comes the responsibility that goes with it. The Christian life is not one of ease, a life of “do as you please,” but the Christian has the promise of the Savior who says “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30) because He becomes your “yoke partner.”

Jesus said that the Global Flood was real: “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be (Matthew 24:37-39). Jesus said that the Jonah “fish story” was true: “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). He said this in foretelling of His own death, burial, and resurrection which He fulfilled at His crucifixion.

Jesus said hell is real. He spoke of those within the church – “tares” – that by all appearances look like genuine Christians, but are not. Of these He said, “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:40-42, emphasis mine). He spoke of the kingdom of heaven being like a net cast into the sea (the “sea” is often used as a metaphor for “the people” of the world) and gathered in by the angels who separate the good from the bad. “So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:49-50, emphasis mine).  Jesus said that if your hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin, you should get rid of them, for it is better to enter into heaven maimed than to be whole and “to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:43-48, emphasis mine). Notice that Jesus stressed the eternality of hell; “never” means NEVER.  Jesus spoke of hell as a real place. He told the true account of a rich man and a poor beggar who both died and stepped into eternity (Luke 16:19-31).  The rich man ended up in hell, “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments” (Luke 16:23, emphasis mine). Hell is real. Jesus said it.

Just as hell is real, Jesus said heaven is real. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3, emphasis mine). That place has dimensions: “And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal” (Revelation 21:16).  A furlong is 660 feet. Twelve-thousand furlongs would be 7.92 million feet, and divided by 5280 feet (i.e. one mile), that is equal to 1500 miles. That is about the distance from Dallas, TX to New York, NY. Now imagine that in the size of a cube. It is not a small place! And that is just the “New Jerusalem.” There is no telling just how large the rest of heaven is, but with all that space, it is a very exclusive place. Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait [narrow/tight] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14, emphasis mine).

Many today appeal to the “love” of Jesus suggesting that a “loving God” would not send anyone to hell. Even the Pope has boarded that band wagon claiming that all roads lead to God. Those who appeal to a loving God are partially correct; God sends no one to hell. They end up there by their own choice. Those who claim John 3:16 fail to read any further. Two verses down, John 3:18 says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (emphasis mine). In my Bible, those words are written in red; Jesus said it.  God is not swayed by popular consensus. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6, emphasis mine). There is no other way. Jesus said it.

Jesus taught many good lessons that when taken to heart prove beneficial to our day-to-day lives. But He also taught some very hard lessons that, when ignored, lead to eternal damnation. It’s tough to hear, but Jesus said it.

If you are unsure of your eternal destination, you alone can do something about it. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). Jesus said it.

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September 27, 2015 · 10:30

The Theocracy Fallacy

Bible and Cue Card Used by Gerald R. Ford When He Took the Oath of Office

Bible and Cue Card Used by Gerald R. Ford When He Took the Oath of Office

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.   (Revelation 12:5)

Recently the liberal news media bushwhacked presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson for his statement that a Muslim should not serve as President of the United States. The statement found great support among conservatives, but left-leaning Democrats and Republicans were self-righteously offended by his remarks. Attempting to do some damage control without really backing down, Carson explained that someone who would place Sharia Law above the Constitution of the United States cannot honestly swear to uphold and defend the Constitution. Carson rightly pointed out that Islam is a theocracy – god rule. A true follower of Islam cannot separate his religion from his politics; they are one and the same. The Muslim holy book and other Muslim sacred writings call for strict adherence to Islamic law. (“Islam” means “submission.”) Therefore, if a faithful Muslim were to become President of the United States, “he” (because a Muslim woman would not be permitted to hold such an office) would have to, out of obligation to his religion, invoke Sharia Law when it came in conflict with the Constitution.

In his defense, Carson qualified his stance by saying that he could indeed vote for a Muslim as President, if that Muslim denounced Sharia Law and swore to uphold the Constitution in all cases. (Of course, the Qur’an encourages Muslims to lie to “infidels,” so their integrity would be questionable.) Furthermore, said Carson, he would not vote for a Christian, if that Christian advocated for a Christian theocracy. Our nation is and always has been a nation of laws, and the Constitution is the law of the land.

I fully understand and agree with Dr. Carson’s stance. What I believe is missing here is a clear understanding of what a theocracy is. According to Dictionary.Com, a theocracy is “a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God’s or deity’s laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities.” The problem with that definition is in the word “recognized” and in the phrase “laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities.” That renders the definition false because it is humanistic in nature. First of all, the deity has to be “recognized” by man as the “supreme civil ruler” which means that ultimately it is man that is defining the laws of the god. Secondly, the laws are interpreted by men who are either appointed by men or self-appointed as “ecclesiastical authorities.” Ultimately the “theocracy” becomes an “androcracy” – a rule by men, so the “god-rule” goes out the window.

When God brought the children of Israel into the Promised Land, they had no king other than God. God gave His law to Moses and set up a system of priests and judges to administer His law. Not long after they settled in the land, reliance on God and His law fell by the wayside and “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; Judges 21:25). Therein lays the problem with a theocracy – man.

A true theocracy is absolute rule by God. Until Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth, any man-initiated theocracy is doomed to fail. When Christ returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, His rule will be absolute. Speaking of Christ, the Messiah, the Lord says, “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2:9). When He returns, He will share His administration with His saints “And [they] shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Revelation 2:27). There will be no question of authority because His eternal law will not be violated. “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).  The “sharp sword” from His mouth is the Word of God: “For the word of God is quick [i.e., “alive”], and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Until Jesus returns, no true theocracy can exist. Any so called theocracy devised by fallen man is thereby flawed. Dr. Ben Carson is right. Anyone adhering to any human defined theocracy is unfit to hold the office of President of the United States. As it stands, the U.S. Constitution, because of its foundation on God’s Law, must be upheld as the supreme law of the land.

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September 20, 2015 · 10:30

Still Listening

hand-to-ear-listening

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  (2 Peter 3:3-4)

Last week I expressed my hope to hear that Last Trump and be taken to meet my Lord in the clouds. Well, I am still here and so are all my brothers and sisters that would have gone with me. There were no mass disappearances reported as one should expect with the Rapture of the church. We are all still here. In fact, things are pretty much as they were before. The Shemitah came and went and there was no crash in the stock market as some had suggested. No, the world, such as it is, continues as usual.

You might think I would become cynical after getting my hopes up for nothing. For nothing? No, it is not for nothing, and my hope is still as sure as ever. Remember what I said? “For the past 20 years or more, I have anxiously awaited this time of year.” I also said, “The Lord is not obligated to comply with my speculations.” You see, it’s not my speculations or those of anyone else in which I trust. I am fully trusting in the Word of God and in Jesus’ promise that He would come again. The truth is, that He never pinpointed a time when He would return. Instead He said, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:32). So, the truth is that the Rapture of the Church could come at any time. In the meantime, Jesus expects His servants to “Occupy til I come” (Luke 19:13).

Jesus told a parable expressing His expectations upon His return (Luke 19:12-27). The parable is of a “nobleman” (representing Himself) that “went into a far country [His ascension to heaven] to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return” (v. 12, emphasis mine). He left 10 servants in charge giving them equal amounts of money with the expectation that they would put it to good use.  Verse 14 says that the “citizens” hated Him and sent Him a message saying that they did not want him ruling over them. The Greek word translated “citizens” is politēs which can also be translated “townsmen.” It occurs to me that these “citizens” represent the “world” and not His “servants.” When He returns with His kingdom, He calls His servants to accounts. The first servant reports that he has multiplied what he was entrusted tenfold. The King rewards him with rulership of ten cities. The second servant reports that he has multiplied what he was entrusted fivefold, and the King rewards him with rulership over five cities. The third servant returns only what was given to him and makes excuses for his lack of productivity. This displeases the King and He takes what was given to the third servant and gives it to the first. The other seven servants are not mentioned, leading one to conclude that they cast their lot with the “citizens” who hate the King. For those the punishment is severe. “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me” (v. 27). We might also note that the third servant, although he was unprofitable, is not counted as an “enemy” or excluded from the kingdom.

Last week I explained the fall Feasts of the Lord taking place right now. Rosh HaShanah is past. Yom Kippur is still ahead, as is Sukkot.  Many things are still stirring in the world during this month of September. Jesus’ return is imminent. He still may come sometime this month or maybe not. If not, that does not negate His promise to return. The scoffer will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:4). They will be counted as the Lord’s “enemies.” But to the faithful servant that continues in the Lord’s work He says, “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath” (Luke 12:43-44).

So, Jesus did not come at the Feast of Trumpets this time as I had hoped. That only means He still has work for me – for us – to do, but I am still listening for that Last Trump.

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September 13, 2015 · 10:30

The Last Trump

Shophar-739195

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

For the past 20 years or more, I have anxiously awaited this time of year. Granted, the Lord is not obligated to comply with my speculations. The times are fully under His sovereign will and control, and I am more than happy to submit to His wisdom and direction. So whatever happens today, tomorrow or in the near future, I am fully trusting that God’s plan will be fulfilled in accordance with His perfect timing to which I am not, nor is anyone else, privy.

The reason for my excitement at this season, is that many years ago I learned that the Feasts of the Lord given to Israel in Exodus were given as a pattern for the future ministry of Christ. The first four feasts came in the spring and were fulfilled by Christ in His flesh. Jesus fulfilled Passover as the Lamb of God on the cross, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. At this feast, all leaven, which represented sin, was to be removed and cast out of the house. Jesus fulfilled this by taking upon Himself our sin and being buried in the earth. Then followed the Feast of First Fruits, which celebrated new life. Jesus fulfilled this feast when He rose from the dead as the “first fruit” of the resurrection. After His resurrection, Jesus walked on the earth for 40 days and ascended into heaven. Ten days later, at the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon His followers fulfilling the spring harvest which continues to this day.

Three feasts remain to be fulfilled, and they are the fall feasts. The first is the Feast of Trumpets, or Rosh HaShanah, the beginning of the new civil year. Eight days later Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, follows, and then four days after that is Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths), which is celebrated for eight days. The Feast of Trumpets was a holy convocation or gathering. On the Day of Atonement, sacrifices were offered for the sins of the nation. The high priest first had to offer a sacrifice for his own sins, and then he offered a sacrifice for the sins of the people. He carried the blood of the sacrifice into the temple, and only at this time could he enter into the Holy of Holies that housed the Ark of the Covenant where the presence of the Lord dwelt. As he entered into this most holy place, the chimes on the hem of his robe jingled gaving notice to those without that he was still alive and moving inside. A rope was tied to one of his ankles should the displeasure of the Lord strike him dead. Those outside would not be able to enter the most holy place to extract him, but they could drag him out by the rope. So, in he would go and take the blood of the sacrifice, and there upon the Mercy Seat (the covering of the Ark), he would pour out the blood of the sacrifice. Inside the Ark resided three elements that represented Israel’s sin against God. The tablets of the Ten Commandments represented God’s Law that had been violated. There was a sample of the manna that represented God’s provision that had been rejected. Finally there was Aaron’s staff that had budded representing God’s leadership against which they had rebelled. The contents of the Ark, therefore, represented Israel’s offences against God. These were covered by the sacrificial blood. This was indeed a most solemn and remorseful occasion. Four days later sorrow was followed by a joyous celebration as Israel commemorated their wanderings in the wilderness living in temporary housing – tents, i.e., tabernacles. During this time, God provided food and water for them, and their clothes and shoes did not wear out. More than that, God was always present with them in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. These last three feasts are yet to be fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ.

So how is that relevant to us? We are told in the Old Testament, and affirmed in the New Testament, that Christ will return and set up His kingdom on earth for 1000 years. (I have written about this in the past and so have many others, so I will skip the details for now.) Before that happens, seven years of “tribulation” will come upon the earth and mankind (Daniel 9:24-27). According to the pre-tribulation view of end-times, which I loosely hold, Christ will come for His Bride – the Church, the body of all true believers – and take her out of this world to save her from the wrath to come. This is what is known as the Rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18).  This event, we are told, will be preceded “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, emphasis mine). Our leading verse says that it will be “at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52, emphasis mine).

Today, September 13, 2015, is Elul 29 on the Jewish calendar. It is the last day of the Jewish civil year. I understand that every day during the month of Elul, the shofar (the trumpet) is sounded. The following day is Rosh HaShanah (the Feast of Trumpets) when the final trumpet is sounded calling all of Israel to gather at the temple. I believe that for the Church, the Bride of Christ, that will be the call to gather to Him, and thus fulfilling the first of the fall feasts. Tomorrow, September 14, 2015, Tishri 1 on the Jewish calendar, is that day.

There are many reasons to believe that the Rapture will occur tomorrow, although I will not presume upon God and make an emphatic or dogmatic statement. Today (Elul 29) concludes the Sabbatical Year – the Shemitah. Tomorrow, Tishri 1, announces the beginning of the 70th Year of Jubilee since the observance was given to Israel 3500 years ago. Seven, in biblical numerology is the number of completion. Many other “coincidental” events are also converging around this time as recorded in the last post I shared (http://www.ericbarger.com/focused.doom.htm).

I am not saying categorically that the Rapture will take place tomorrow. But I will say this: I will have my ear cocked toward the eastern sky listening for that last trump. I may be disappointed, but never disheartened or discouraged because the Lord promised that He would return (John 14:1-3), and I know that He will when HE is ready. I need to be ready too. Are you?

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September 7, 2015 · 11:43

Are You Focused on Doom Instead of Him? – Is September the End?

Source: Are You Focused on Doom Instead of Him? – Is September the End?

focused.doom.logo.1

Eric Barger presents a very balanced perspective on the upcoming September events. This is a must-read article for all Christians who are looking forward to the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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